Device for preventing evaporation of volatile products



` Dec. 28,51937.` u :0555913` A 2,103,935 l DEVICE FOR PREVENTING EVAPCRATION 0F voLATILEVPRoDUCTs Filed Deb. 1o, 1955 y 2 sheets-sheet 2 D sa y DEVICE lFon PEEvEN'r lo. EvAroEA'rloN vor,yvoriiwrlLE-rnomio'rs` i l i aeom'jeugaeom, Miam-moa, ma i ,Appucatin December-10, 1935, serial No; 53,333"y v i In Luxemburg December 13, 19,34 u

fz claims;A (cino- 444i The present inventionl hasy for its objectl a der v i l vice preventing the evaporation of `volatile prod,- ucts, such as lfuels,fo`r instance gasoline or heavy oils, or matters which also undergo evapo- 5 ration as a result of theiri conditions-vinse, such as. lubricants, especially those employed in'y internal'combustion' engines, the high temperature of which causes'the formation of yvapors, this u evaporation being liable to take place either while ,10 the matters arebeing storedup for subsequent use,.as it is7 the case `with fuelsand lubricantsin tanks, or during theirfow, i lIt isa known factthat internal combustion l s engineseare fed with fue1,"gaso1ine`for instance, 15 through` a "carburetter, which includes a float 1 chamber and isfed with gasoline from a reseri voir at 'a higher level, or` througha propelling l device, such for instance` asa pump, drawing they gasoline from'the reservoir; ,Now; this tanl';l or reservoir on `the one hand, the ioat" chamber of the carburetter on theiother: liami,v are generally indirect communicationwiththe atmosphereingorder to `permit the flow of gasoline. It follows that'vapors'of gasoline, which is an extremely volatile matter, escape through the vent -hole ofthe' tanlcplugI and throughr the air inlets ofthe ioatchamber"ofthe carburetter.

This continuous outflow yof i gasoline vapors, f.

which, inthe caseofautornobile vehicles, is in'- creased on the one hand, by the rise of temgineand, on theV other hand, by the `stirringn'of th'e"-gasoline vproducer] :by unevennessy of the ground' and sudden changes ofspeed'," involves an important loss of fuel'` and hasthe further disadvantage` of rendering variable the composition ofthe mixture fecl to the engine, which be'-k comes' weaker "and weaker as the fuel is evaporrating. `The same oeilrawback is experienced Iconcerning tanks lcontaining the reserve of lubricant,

lubricant pu'mps, cistern's and thelike.

f The" object-` of the present invention isto provide a devicej which obviates these drawbacks;v

'f The essentialifeaturecfthe invention consists i in the'fact thaty the tank "or othercontainer in which the volatile'or similar product is present,

for instance a. gasoline tank orcarburetter iloat chamber, is closed in a fluid-tight manner and invpreventing vthe'vapors of the lproduct to escape.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention; the airinlet device consists of Va valve normally applied ,upon its seat by4 an' antago- 55 nlstic spring and which opens `soas to permit peraturefr'esuiting from the vicinityof the en# or' the lubricant in circulation, and also fuel or i cludesa-device permitting the inow of air butr air'to flow in, under the vreect of an internal Y depression or suction produced, forinstance, by l the viow of'` fuel. i Advautageously, the` device, acccrding tothe present'invention is combined with a safety valveadapted to `operate in case of an 5 abnormal internalipressure.` 'o ,l .i i L i A second embodiment of the invention consists in giving the air inlet theformf'of a conduit at the" end of which there is provided a `serpentinef l shapedcapillary tube; i o

According to another characteristic feature of i the present invention, the air inlet of `the device .is `fitted .withja' conduit `or tube immersed at its low'rend1 in a 1iquid,-for instance ajcondenn An equivalent arrangement"c rmsistsl in com-y *'20* bining -the device according to the invention with a condenser of 'asuitabletypa producing the condensation of jthej'vapors and eventually capable of being vc :ooleld by an air stream resulting Y from the motion of the vehicle or produced by @device actuated as a `result of this'motion. Preferred embodimentsV of the present invention will be' hereinafterv described, with reference to the `accompanying `drawings, given merely by Vvvay'fof example, and in which:A i V Figs. l1 to 4 inclusive are axialV sectional views showing several embodirnentsrof` the `device according to the present invention, including an air, inlet valve and a `safety valve; i I Fig. ljsliows an analogous device appliedfto the iloat chamber of `acarburetter; ,i y j, Figl 6 vshows a modification' of the air inlet device, including 'a serpentine-shaped capillary tubeenii, o y u ,o l "H Fig.v 7 shows a modification of the lower part of this device; i i i Fig. 8 is'fa'transversesrectional view of the combinaticn `oi! Va device according to thepresent invention'with a shock condenser.

Y In the embodimentof Fig'. 1 Bvdesig'nates the plugfofagasoline tank onwhich is fixed an air inlet conduit i; by means of a threaded cap 2 including channels 3 opening into thev atmosp here. *i A ring 4,'tightly held between the `,bottom vof plug BJ and a" shoulder lprovided on the body of conduit I, ensuresfluid tightness ofthe device." Thekiower end of this body .I` l'carrie's a threaded projection 6 o n which fis" screwed the ofwhich carries bosses or corrugations I8 in-v seV creasing the surface of condensation. Between the lower end of body I and a shoulder 8 carried by tubular element I9, is held, with the interposition of a packing ring 1, the circular part 8 of a valve body 8. In this body is slidably mounted the .safety valve III, provided with lateral ports II and urged against its seat by a spring I3 bearing against shoulder 5. This valve is axially bored so as to constitute, at itsvupp'er part. the seat of a valve I5 urged against said seat by a spring I8 bearing against a piece I1 iixed to the end of the valve body 8. The lower oriiice 22 opens into acondensation cup 23 with vent holes 24, further includingy overflow holes t the height of which may vary according to the case, in order to vary the rcapacity of said cup. This device is completed by a vlter f and a metallic grid g. Y

I'his device works in the following manner: When the plug B of the tank is screwed in a huid-tight manner on said tank and the vehicle is stationaryythe engine beingstopped, valves I and I5 are in contact with respective seats I2 and I4. As soon as the engine is started, the vibrations and oscillations transmitted to the tank produce a disengagement of gasoline vapors. `A portion of these vapors is condensed on the wall of thetank, on condensation surfacesV I 8' `and also on the body of cup 23. 'I'he gasoline that is thus condensed nus holes 24 and constitutes a hydraulic joint for the air inlet orifice 22.

The flow Aof gasoline produced by the suction ofthe engine produces in the tank a depression or suction whichcauses valve I to open. Air enters through channels 3, passes through pipe I, the bore of valve I5, lateral ports II and issues through channels 24, flowing through the hydraulic joint. This air inlet therefore takes place in accordance with the depression created inthe tank by the suction of thevengine, the` hydraulic joint positively preventing any escape ofgasoline vapors. Accordingly, I irst obtain a considerable reduction of the consumption of fuel. Furthermore, as the gasoline vapors cannot escape from the tank, the mixture that is fed `to the carburetterv keeps the same composition, which ensures the constancy of the eiiiciency of the engine. Furthermore., any risk of fire that might result from the presence of volatile vapors in the vicinity of the engine is avoided.

When an overpressure takes place in the tank, a portion of the mixture of air and the gasoline vapors escapes, lifting valve I0. irid g is intended to prevent the outflow of liquid gasoline carried along bythe gaseous mixture that passes through the hydraulic joint and to produce a condensation, at least aV partial one, ofthe vapors that are driven along, in such manner as to reduce as much as possible the outiiow of volatile vapors, which might weaken the mixture fed .to the ensine.

The device shown in Fig. 2 includesy a main body 25, with a protecting cap 26 and a lower conduit 21, which is fitted with a filter 28, said conduit being threaded externally for permitting its fixation, for instance to the float chamberV of a carburetter. Inl this body 25 there is formed a chamber 30 open at both ends, a conduit 32 connecting these two ends together. Chamber 38, which is connected vwith the Yatmosphere, through any suitable number of ports 29, contains a filter 3|. Itis fitted, atene end, with a valve 38 and at the otherend with a safety valve 34, respectively, said valves being connected together by conduit 32.' Each valve is suitably spring-loaded and rests, under the action Vof its own weight, upon its seat.

Valve 33 is lifted under the effect of a depression or partial vacuum in the float chamber of the carburetter. It allows air to enter, while an abnormal overpressure causes safety valve 34 to open and the excess of vapors to escape.

The device shown by Fig. 3 includes a. base portion 35, with'a conduit 38'tted with a filter 31 mounted therein, said conduit being externally threaded so as to permit its fixation for l 4instanceA to the oat chamber of a carburetter.

This basev portion includes an annular threaded projection 38 on which is screwed a plug 38 provided with internal threads and having vent holes 48 formed therein. A valve 42, provided with a central hole at 43, is kept in contact with its seat 4I by a spring 44, while the central orifice 43,

forming a valve seat, is closed, under the inuence of gravity, by safety valve 45. The device further includes a filter 48. The working of this device is analogous to that above described; it is therefore unnecessary to again describe it.

The device shown in axial section in Fig. 4 includes a main body 41 constituting two juxtaposed cylinders 48, 48. `Que of these cylinders 48 is open at its upper part and isA provided, at its lower part, with a bore 50, forming a valve seat 5I. 'I'he other cylinder, 49, is open. at its lower part and is provided at its upper part with a bore 52 forming a valve seat 53. Cylinderv 48 is tted, at its open end, with a hollow cap 54 tting therein. Said cap is provided with a hole 55, provided in axial position, at its upper end, and a certain number of ,notches 58' are formed in its lower edge. This cap is.intended`, on the one hand, to maintain the spring 51. of4 a safety valve 58, which it applies against its seat 5I, and, on the other hand, to limit the, useful displacement of said valve, notches 56 connecting, in this case the holes 50 and 55 together. In` a likewise manner, cap 49 is fitted, at its open end, with ahollow cap v59, provided with a central hole `at 80 and the open edge of which is provided with notches 6 I. This last mentioned cap maintains the spring 62 of a valvelnormally applied against its seat 53 and limits the useful stroke of this last mentioned valve. y l

The main body 41 is provided, at its upper part, with threads 41' on lwhichcan be screwed a cap 84 having vent holes 55 and a central threaded hole 66 formed therein. Said central hole 68 is normally stopped but it may eventually be placed into `communication with' a condenser as it will be hereinafter explained. In this case, the vent` holes should be stopped. The main body 41 is provided, at its lower part, with a threaded portion 41" on which can be screwed a cap 61 carrylng a tube 68 provided with external threads, so as to permit of fixing it, for instance, to the iioat chamber of' a carburetter. In this` tube88 is mounted a iilter 68'.'

When a depression, or partial vacuum, occurs in the float chamber of the carburetter. valve 83 is sucked in and compresses its spring 82, while safety valve 58 remains applied againstits seat 5I. 'I'he intlow of air takesnplace through ventholes 85, hole 52, `the annular space between valve 63 and the wall .of chamber 44, eventually notches 5I, hole 60 and tube 68. In the case of an abnormal overpressure, safety valve 58 is lifted from its seatl and the4 escape of the vapors in excess takes place throughs. similar path.

Fig. 5 shows the float chamber C of a carburetter, the iloat being .visible at F. The lid D of said chamber `is fitted thereto ina fluid-tight `manner. On this lidis screwed thel threaded-end.v ilprovidedwith a bore 10,101 a tubular body] l, "provided with externalthreads 12 atvgits upper. endf On its ,upperV edge, there` is= applied the flange I8 oi the valve guide 14, kept inposition "byfa cap,y 'I5 screwed. on the` whole. cap is i provided with a blind holir'IG` into which I open the air-holes 1,8, the open Yend of said holelforming a valve seat". Valve 'I9 is normally applied againstits seat by a spring 80 bearing against the l The latter is provided with end oi valve guide ll. lateral holes 8I and expansion chambers 82.` The tubular' body 'II is soshaped as to form, at its lower part, an annular cup 83 intended to receive the condensed gasoline'and to form, together with the lower annular portion l85 of valve guide 1I, a

` disposed concentrically with cup 88.V

`When a, certain yvacuum. exists in the `oat An expansion surface hydraulic joint. 8l is chamber, valve 19 moves away from its seat and air, iiowing through ports 8|, passes through the e hydraulic joint, carrying along a small amount 3 of gasoline which stays in gutter-shapedpart 83,

,c l tube 81. On the body I there is screwed a tubular body 88, provided at its lower part with a pointed part 89, carrying threads 90 which permit its fixation tothe bottom of a condensation cup 8|, said pointed part being provided with air outlet holes 92.- A diaphragm 93 with a central orifice g. im 94 prevents the. escape o! the vapors carried' along by the gaseous mixture. n Y In Fig. 7, the condensation cup is replaced by a chamber 95 provided with partitions 88 which may be either provided with holes v8'! disposed in 'baie-'like manner or made of aporous material.

The operation of both oi these devices is analos gous to that described in the first case, the coiled capillary tube being intended to brakethe inlet of air while the outlet ofthe gasoline ,vapors is,

prevented by the hydraulic joint in the case oi .Fig 6 and by the condensation that takes place on the walls 96 in the case of Fig. 7. However,

the saving obtained with these two devicesfis smaller than that -obtained with the preceding embodiments.

Fig. 8 diagrammaticallyshows in axial section an arrangement of shock condenser branched on a carburetterof `an internal combustion engine "andincluding an. air inlet valve and a safety valve. This condenser is constituted by a vessel 98 thermally insulated by a double wall 68, the interval between the elements of said wall being eventually iilled with asbestos. The bottom4 oi vessel 98 is connectedfthrough a conduit |00, with the upper part of the oat chamber IOI of ,the carburetter. The inside of thiscondenser vin cludes a condensation chamber |02 provided at its upper part with two partitions |03, |04 having' formed therein holes arranged in vbame-like arrangement or the like. Next to this chamber, thereis provided a chamber |05 niled with a matter in the dividedstate or having a great number of contact surfaces, such for instance as hammer slag, said chamber being closed by a number of small-coiled tubes I?. "'I'heupper part oi the condenserr is connected withthe v atmosphere through ane air inlet valve it and a safety valve |09; for instance oi' 'one'of thetypes above described@` Fixation parts 09? permity of securing` the device in Asuitable position; forln stance tothe instrumentboard oi an automobile In` the case of' an overpressure 'in the float `chamber of the carburettenthe excess of vapours escapes through tube |00 and condenses in the condenser, `dropping back into condensation chamber |02. These vapours are returned to the carburetter owing to the suction produced 'adaptation of each of these vdevices toa careburetter of a` known type, but this does not en clude the possibility :of devising carburetters including these devices. In a likewise manner, when these devices are combined with a .tank

es"l

plug, they may constitute a portion of said plug f Without departing from the rprinciple of the invention. In a general way, the condenser should belocated above the oat chamber oi the carburettery and as far as possible from the zones in which air streams are generated, y

On the other hand,` the air inlet valve and the safety valve may be located either between the iioat chamber of the carburetter and the condenser. or upon the condenser, as shown. Besides,l I may provide a greater number oi these valves without departing from the principle of the invention.

The condenser mayv also be applied in comati 4 bination vwith a fuel tank, a pump or a fuel i cistern, and in a general way withany tank con taining volatilevproducts which arer to .be prol n i tected against evaporation.

.'It should be noted that, when a device according to the present invention is to be applied to f an airplane tank, a speclalvalve must be provided for preventing the fuel from coming into contact with the constitutive elements or saidV descriptiondisclosed what Ii deem to be prac tical and eiiicient embodimentsof the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there lmight be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the spirit of the present invention as comprehended within the-scope of the appended claims.L

What I claim is: v f

1. In combination with a container, a device for preventing evaporation of a volatile or similar productpresent in said container, which comprises, in combination, means for closing said container in a iuidtight manner, check valve means forthe inw of air into said container. a safety valve for-'the outflow of iiuid from said container'in case of an overpressure therein, a cup adapted to contain a liquid disposed under said means, and an air inlet tube connected with said check valve means and adapted' to dlp in the liquid in said cup so as to form a hydraulic joint.

2. In combination with a container, a device for preventing evaporation of a volatile liquidl present in said container, which comprises, in combination, a hollow body adapted to, be fixed in a fiuidtight manner on said'container, said body forming a chamber communicating with the outside, means including an inlet check valve for connecting said chamber with said container for the inflow of air, means, including a safety valve,

vadapted to connect said chamber with the indraulic joint.

RAOUL EUGENE cossAIs. 

